Fastening device for placement on a mounting rail

ABSTRACT

A fastening device ( 21 ) for placement on a mounting rail having a back-engagement part ( 22 ) for insertion into a mounting opening of the mounting rail and for engaging behind edges of the mounting opening of the mounting rail, having a support plate ( 42 ) for coming in contact with the mounting rail on the outside, having a spring element ( 52 ) for prestressing the back-engagement part ( 22 ) in a circumferential direction with respect to an axis of rotation ( 27 ) of the back-engagement part ( 22 ), which is perpendicular to a plane (E) spanned by the support plate ( 42 ), and having a holding device ( 31 ) for holding the back-engagement part ( 22 ) in a prestressed position, such that the back-engagement part ( 22 ) is transferrable from the insertion position into an engagement position engaging behind the edges of the mounting opening by spring element ( 52 ) when the holding device ( 31 ) is released. The holding device ( 31 ) includes a holding element ( 32 ) which for the release of the holding device ( 31 ) is displaceable axially relative to the plane (E) spanned by the support plate ( 42 ) with respect to the axis of rotation ( 27 ) of the back-engagement part ( 22 ).

This claims the benefit of German Patent Application DE 10 2009 001 282.6, filed Mar. 2, 2009 and hereby incorporated by reference herein.

The present invention relates to a fastening device for placement on a mounting rail. In addition, the present invention relates to a fastening device having a plate-shaped element and a plurality of fastening devices for placing the plate-shaped element on mounting rails.

BACKGROUND

Lines for water, heating, ventilation, air conditioning and/or electrical installations, for example, may be secured via appropriate fastening devices on rail systems used in the field of assembly technology. Devices for suspension of components whose rod elements are also attachable using suitable fastening devices on the rail systems are also provided on rail systems. In addition, stand structures on which plate-shaped elements, e.g., solar panels or façade elements, may be secured are also formed from rails.

For such a rail system, a so-called C-shaped mounting rail such as that known from DE 87 15 256 U1, for example, is often used. The interior enclosed by the mounting rail is accessible from the outside via a mounting opening running along the longitudinal extent of the mounting rail, said mounting opening being bordered laterally by edges. The mounting opening has an inside clearance width, which runs across the longitudinal extent of the mounting rail and is smaller than the corresponding inside dimension of the interior of the mounting rail.

EP 0 553 765 B1 describes a fastening device for placement on a C-shaped mounting rail. The fastening device has a back-engagement part for insertion into a mounting opening of the mounting rail and for engaging behind edges of the mounting opening of the mounting rail. The back-engagement part has a width smaller than the clearance width of the mounting opening and a length greater than the clearance width of the mounting opening. In addition, the fastening device has a support plate for contact with the mounting rail on the outside. A spring element is provided for prestressing the back-engagement part circumferentially with respect to an axis of rotation of the back-engagement part, which is perpendicular to a plane spanned by the support plate. The back-engagement part is held in a prestressed position via a holding device. In addition, a tensioning screw cooperating with the back-engagement part is provided for bracing the fastening device on the mounting rail. The spring element for prestressing the back-engagement part is situated here between the support plate and the back-engagement part. The holding device has recesses on the back-engagement part, which cooperate with protrusions on the support plate. After insertion of the back-engagement part into the mounting opening of the mounting rail, the holding device is released by axial displacement of the tensioning screw in the direction of the support plate, the back-engagement part being automatically transferred from the insertion position into an engagement position gripping behind the edges of the mounting opening because of the prestress present from the spring element. The rotation of the back-engagement part is limited by stop faces provided on the back-engagement part, coming to a stop against the insides of the edges of the mounting opening facing each other.

One disadvantage of the known approach is that tools which must be carried separately are required for bracing the fastening device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a fastening device, which will ensure a simple tool-free assembly with accurate alignment of the back-engagement part with respect to the mounting rail for optimal transfer of force into the mounting rail. In addition, another object of the present invention is to create a fastening system for placing a plate-shaped element such as a solar panel or a façade element on mounting rails to permit simple tool-free assembly of the plate-shaped element.

The present invention provides a fastening device for placement on a mounting rail having a back-engagement part for insertion into a mounting opening in the mounting rail and for engaging behind edges of the mounting opening of the mounting rail, having a stop plate for coming in contact with mounting rail on the outside,

having a spring element for prestressing the back-engagement part in a circumferential direction with respect to an axis of rotation of the back-engagement part standing perpendicular to a plane spanned by the stop plate, and having a holding device for holding the back-engagement part in a prestressed position, in which the back-engagement part is transferrable from the insertion position into an engagement position engaging behind the edges of the mounting opening by the spring element when the holding device is released.

According to the present invention, the holding device includes a holding element, which may be displaced axially relative to the plane spanned by the support plate for releasing the holding device with respect to the axis of rotation of the back-engagement part.

When the holding element is displaced, the prestressed back-engagement part is released, so that it is transferred by the spring element out of its insertion position into its engagement position. In doing so, the fastening device is automatically braced on the mounting rail without having to use a separate tool. The fastening device according to the present invention is self-deploying at the time of the assembly, which allows the use of this fastening device even in poorly accessible or inaccessible mounting sites. The fastening device is advantageous for fastening plate-shaped elements such as solar panels or façade elements. In addition, fastening points for rod elements or pipe clamps may be created on a mounting rail using the fastening device according to the present invention without the use of tools. To do so, the fastening device has an inside threaded section, for example, on which a rod element of a suitable design may be secured. In addition, joining elements for a rail system, such as mounting angles, may be provided with the fastening devices according to the present invention, which are easily and reliably mountable without the use of tools.

A guide mandrel for guiding the spring element, which provides an assembly aid for the spring element, advantageously protrudes away from the holding element in the direction of the back-engagement part. Additionally, the free end of the guide mandrel advantageously has a coupling section, which engages in a similarly designed mating coupling section on the back-engagement part in the assembled state of the fastening device and thus forms a rotational mount of the back-engagement part. In one variant thereto, the holding element is axially movable along a guide pin, with the guide pin simultaneously providing guidance of the spring element.

At least one entraining section preferably protrudes away from the holding element, which induces the axial displacement of the holding element relative to the plane spanned by the support plate for releasing the holding element or releases it. When the back-engagement part is inserted into the mounting rail, the at least one entraining section advantageously comes into contact with the outside of the mounting rail where the mounting opening is located. Alternatively, the at least one entraining section protrudes in the direction of the interior of the mounting rail. As soon as the at least one entraining section is in contact with the outside or an internal section of the mounting rail, the back-engagement part is no longer held as the back-engagement part is further inserted into the mounting rail. At least two entraining sections situated on opposite sides are advantageously provided in a holding element, so they may be brought into contact in their opposing positions with the edges of the mounting opening or with the inside sections of the mounting rail. Multiple entraining sections may secure the fastening device against an unintended release of the holding device, e.g., in the event of incorrect positioning outside of the mounting rail, because the back-engagement part is not released until it is displaced axially due to the contact of the entraining sections.

The holding element preferably has at least one stop cam for limiting the axial displacement of the holding element relative to the support plate, these parts of the fastening device being inseparably joined together.

The support plate preferably has an elongated recess having a U-shaped cross section insertable into the mounting opening of the mounting rail, the back-engagement part being situated in this recess. The width of the U-shaped recess is designed to be smaller than the clearance width of the mounting opening, so that the recess is able to penetrate into the mounting rail. Due to the placement of this back-engagement part in this recess, the fastening device may be designed to be simple and compact.

A bearing point for the back-engagement part providing an axial bearing of the back-engagement part in the support plate is preferably provided on the bottom section of the U-shaped recess. The back-engagement part advantageously has on its fulcrum a protruding bearing cam penetrating into a bore in the bottom section of the U-shaped recess.

A guide opening for the back-engagement part is preferably provided in at least one of the side walls of the U-shaped recess. The guide opening ensures the guidance of the back-engagement part during the rotation of the back-engagement part into its engagement position. The guide opening advantageously has a stop face for limiting the rotational path, ensuring an accurate alignment of the back-engagement part and preventing overtwisting of the back-engagement part. Such a fastening device is independent of the special geometry of the mounting rail, in particular the geometry of the mounting opening. A stop face for the back-engagement part is advantageously situated on each of the two opposing side walls of the U-shaped recess.

An axial guide for the holding element is preferably provided in at least one of the side walls of the U-shaped recess, thereby preventing tilting of the holding element as it is axially displaced. The holding element advantageously has a stop cam, which glides along during the axial displacement in the guide in the side wall of the U-shaped recess while at the same time forming a stop for the maximum axial displaceability of the holding element.

The spring element is preferably provided between the holding element and the back-engagement part, thus permitting a simple and compact design of the fastening device. The spring element is advantageously a leg spring made of wire, for example. One contacting leg of the leg spring is in contact with the back-engagement part, and the other contacting leg is in contact with the support plate. Alternatively, the spring element is made of a spring plate, for example. The spring element is advantageously designed so that it exerts a spring force on the back-engagement part in the engagement position, and this is advantageous in the case of dynamic loads, i.e., variable loads in particular.

The back-engagement part preferably has at least one ramp-shaped clamping face on its tensioning face, forming a clamping link and easily ensuring automatic bracing of the fastening device on the mounting rail without the use of tools. The inclination of the clamping faces ensures an advantageous bracing of the fastening device on the mounting rail.

An adapter element connectable to the support plate is preferably provided, thereby permitting removal of an element secured using the fastening device. In particular when plate-shaped elements are secured using the fastening device, the arrangement of an adapter element secured on the support plate via screws, for example, is advantageous. Furthermore, the adapter element allows an arrangement of differently designed back-engagement parts and/or support plates which are designed according to the rail geometry on which the fastening device is situated.

A fastening system according to the present invention for placing the plate-shaped element on mounting rails includes a plate-shaped element and multiple fastening devices, the fastening devices being secured on the plate-shaped element. A plurality of plate-shaped elements such as solar panels or facade elements may thus be placed so they abut against the mounting rails and are flush with one another. Since the fastening devices are self-deploying at the time of the assembly and therefore no accessibility of the fastening devices is necessary, the plate-shaped elements may also be placed on rail structures which are not externally accessible. In the case of solar systems, the edges of the individual panels are no longer gripped by sections of the fastening device for their fixation on the mounting rails, so the entire surface of the panels is available for generating electric power, for example. Façade elements may also be attached to mounting rails easily and reliably without fastening devices visible from the outside, which is desirable for aesthetic reasons in particular. The fastening devices are freely positionable and/or may be situated on the plate-shaped element.

The present inventions are explained in greater detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a fastening device for placing a solar panel when a mounting rail is inserted into the mounting rail, in a side view;

FIG. 2 shows a fastening device according to FIG. 1 in an installed position;

FIG. 3 shows the fastening device in a perspective exploded diagram;

FIG. 4 shows the back-engagement part in a perspective view;

FIG. 5 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a fastening device in a partially exploded perspective diagram; and

FIG. 6 shows the fastening device according to FIG. 5 in a side view; and

FIG. 7 shows a fastening system according to the present invention.

Essentially the same parts in the figures are provided with the same reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fastening device 21 shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 is used for placing a plate-shaped element 8 on a mounting rail 11, for example. For securing a rod element on a mounting rail 11, the fastening device (in a specific embodiment not shown here) has a protruding threaded section, for example, on which the rod element may be situated. In addition, connecting parts for rail systems such as mounting angles may have one or more fastening devices 21.

Mounting rail 11 has two opposite side walls 12, a rear wall 13 connecting these side walls 12 and a mounting opening 15 running in the longitudinal extent of mounting rail 11, opposite this rear wall 13 and bordered by edges 14. Mounting opening 15 has a clearance width C which runs across the longitudinal extent of mounting rail 11 and is defined by the inward curving free ends of edges 14. Each mounting rail 11 surrounds an interior space, which is accessible from the outside through mounting opening 15.

Fastening device 21 has a back-engagement part 22 of a width B, which is smaller than clearance width C of mounting opening 15 in mounting rail 11, and a length L, which is greater than clearance width C of mounting opening 15 in mounting rail 11. On its two tensioning faces 23 opposite one another, back-engagement part 22 is provided with a ramp-type clamping face 24, which comes into clamping engagement with the free ends of edges 14 of mounting opening 15. In addition, a bearing cam 25 protruding centrally from back-engagement part 22 defines the fulcrum of back-engagement part 22 through which axis of rotation 27 of back-engagement part 22 passes. For simply screwing back-engagement part 22 into its engagement position, leading edges 26 are each chamfered.

In addition, fastening device 21 includes a support plate 42, which comes in contact on its contact side 43 with the outside of mounting rail 11 adjacent to mounting opening 15 when mounting device 21 is placed on mounting rail 11 and thus acts upon it on the end face. Axis of rotation 27 of back-engagement part 22 is perpendicular to a plane E spanned by support plate 42. Support plate 42 has a U-shaped recess 44, which is insertable into mounting opening 15 of mounting rail 11, width V of which is smaller than clearance width C of mounting opening 15 of mounting rail 11. Back-engagement part 22 is situated in this recess 44, which has two opposing side walls 45 and a bottom section 46 joining them. A bearing opening 47 to receive bearing cam 25 of back-engagement part 22 is provided in bottom section 46, together forming the bearing point for back-engagement part 22. In addition, a guide opening 48 for back-engagement part 22 having a stop face 50 for limiting the rotational path of back-engagement part 22 as well as guides 49 and 51 for a holding element 32 to be described below are provided in side walls 45 of U-shaped recess 44.

Back-engagement part 22 is prestressed by a spring element 52 in a circumferential direction with respect to axis of rotation 27 of back-engagement part 22. Back-engagement part 22 is held in its prestressed position by a holding device 31. When holding device 31 is released, back-engagement part 22 is transferred by spring element 52 out of the insertion position into an engagement position, engaging behind edges 14 of mounting opening 15 of mounting rail 11. Holding device 31 includes a holding element 32, which is moved axially relative to plane E spanned by support plate 42 to release holding device 31 with respect to axis of rotation 27 of back-engagement part 22. Spring element 52 is a leg spring provided between support plate 42 and back-engagement part 22.

An entraining section 33, which comes in contact with the outside of mounting rail 11, which has mounting opening 15, on insertion of back-engagement part 22 into mounting rail 11 and induces the axial displacement of holding element 32 relative to plane E spanned by support plate 42 to release holding device 31, protrudes away from holding element 32 on each of two opposite sides. Entraining sections 33 are each guided in guides 49 in support plate 42 during the axial displacement of holding element 32. In addition, holding element 32 is provided with two holding sections 34, which hold back-engagement part 22 in the insertion position of back-engagement part 22 against the prestress created by spring element 52 in the insertion position of the back-engagement part. In addition, holding element 32 has stop cams 35 opposite one another, guided in guides 51 in side walls 45 of U-shaped recess 44 in support plate 42, limiting, together with the latter, the axial displacement of holding element 32 relative to support plate 42. A guide mandrel 36 for guiding spring element 52 protrudes away from holding element 32 in the direction of back-engagement part 22. The free end of guide mandrel 36 penetrates into back-engagement part 22 in some areas in the assembled state of fastening device 21, so that the back-engagement part is additionally held in its insertion position.

The assembly procedure is explained briefly below on the basis of FIGS. 1 and 2. For example, fastening device 21 is first adhesively bonded to plate-shaped element 8. When back-engagement part 22 and U-shaped recess 44 of support plate 42 are inserted into mounting rail 11, entraining sections 33 come in contact with the outside of mounting rail 11 having mounting opening 15 (FIG. 1). If back-engagement part 22 is inserted further into mounting rail 11, holding element 32 is displaced axially in the direction of support plate 42 or the direction of plate-shaped element 8, thereby releasing holding device 31. Due to the prestress by spring element 52 acting upon back-engagement part 22, back-engagement part 22 is transferred to its engagement position so as to contact the free ends of edges 14 of mounting opening 15 after holding device 31 is triggered (FIG. 2). Ramp-shaped clamping faces 24 on back-engagement part 22 ensure the bracing of fastening device 21 on mounting rail 11 and thus allow automatic retightening, e.g., in the event of dynamic loads such as wind loads.

Fastening device 61 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 differs from fastening device 21 described above only in that two through-openings 73 and one adapter element 82 having two bores 83 with inside threaded sections are provided in support plate 72. Adapter element 82 is secured on plate-shaped element 8, for example, using screws, which may be screwed via through-openings 73 in support plate 72 into bores 83 in adapter element 82 for securing fastening device 61. Screws 86 in their stressed state advantageously do not press on plate-shaped element 8. Bores 83 in adapter element 82 have passages, e.g., facing stop plate 82, in which longer threaded sections may be situated. As an alternative to screws 86 and bores 83 provided with an inside thread, a fast closure such as an eccentric lever or the like may be provided for securing the stop plate on the adapter element.

FIG. 7 shows a fastening system 91 for placing plate-shaped element 8 on mounting rails 11 in such a way that fastening system 91 includes plate-shaped element 8 and a plurality of fastening devices 21 secured on plate-shaped element 8. 

1. A fastening device for placement on a mounting rail comprising: a back-engagement part for insertion into a mounting opening in the mounting rail and for engaging behind edges of the mounting opening of the mounting rail; a stop plate for coming in contact with the mounting rail on an outside; a spring element for prestressing the back-engagement part in a circumferential direction with respect to an axis of rotation of the back-engagement part standing perpendicular to a plane spanned by the stop plate; and a holding device for holding the back-engagement part in a prestressed position, the back-engagement part being transferrable from the insertion position into an engagement position engaging behind edges of the mounting opening by the spring element when the holding device is released, the holding device including a holding element displaceable axially in relation to the plane spanned by the stop plate for releasing the holding device with respect to the axis of rotation of the back-engagement part.
 2. The fastening device as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one entraining section protrudes away from the holding element and induces the axial displacement of the holding element in relation to the plane spanned by the support plate to release the holding device.
 3. The fastening device as recited in claim 1 wherein the holding element has at least one stop cam for limiting the axial displacement of the holding element in relation to the support plate.
 4. The fastening device as recited in claim 1 wherein the support plate has an elongated recess having a U-shaped cross section insertable into the mounting opening of the mounting rail, the back-engagement part being situated in this recess.
 5. The fastening device as recited in claim 4 wherein a bearing point for the back-engagement part is provided on the bottom section of the U-shaped recess.
 6. The fastening device as recited in claim 4 wherein a guide opening for the back-engagement part is provided in at least one of the side walls of the U-shaped recess.
 7. The fastening device as recited in claim 4 wherein an axial guide for the holding element is provided in at least one of the side walls of the U-shaped recess.
 8. The fastening device as recited in claim 1 wherein the spring element is provided between the support plate and the back-engagement part.
 9. The fastening device as recited in claim 1 wherein the back-engagement part has at one least ramp-shaped clamping face on its tensioning face.
 10. The fastening device as recited in claim 1 wherein an adapter element connectable to the support plate is provided.
 11. A fastening system comprising: a plate-shaped element; and a plurality of fastening devices as recited in claim 1 for placing the plate-shaped element on mounting rails, the fastening devices being secured on the plate-shaped element. 